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Sunny Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon Success - Report And Pictures

Author: Nicola Okey

Published: 11th March 2012 19:54

Scott Overall wins Siilverstone Half Marathon

Scott Overall, national 5000m champion, today headed up a field of 6400 runners at Silverstone, the home of British motor racing, at the 10th adidas Silverstone Half Marathon. The Editor of AboutMyArea/NN12 went along and took a few snaps, they can be seen at the bottom of this article, the weather was warm, bright sunshine and a good sprinkling of celebrities.

This event, is the official warm-up race for next month’s Virgin London Marathon, the 32nd London Marathon, to be held on Sunday April 22nd. So with just six weeks to go to this event in London, the 13.1 mile run around the world famous F1 circuit, is felt by many to be ideal preparation for London.

John Spurling OBE, Chairman of the London Marathon, and TV celebrity Tony Audenshaw from Emmerdale , dropped the famous chequered flag in glorious conditions that were ideal for the 13 mile race, both for runners and the many spectators who witnessed hopefully the start of British summertime, with very warm temperatures at 13 degrees, and 68 % humidity.

Overall, following his Olympic marathon qualifying performance in Berlin, thus securing his place on the GB & NI squad of the Olympic Marathon team and the only man so far selected, was named in December 2011 alongside Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi for the women’s team.

Scott’ s half marathon personal best is 63.21, so today saw an easy run out taking the tape at 69:46. Scott said of his win, ‘this is the second half-marathon I have run on a motor car racing track, the first at Indianapolis, but this felt an easy run for me today. Warming-up for the Olympics, I will also be racing in New York next weekend at their half-marathon, then pacing in London at the Virgin London Marathon where fellow British runners hope to qualify for the Olympic marathon team, then on to altitude training in Flagstaff, and racing at the Bupa London 10k in May’.

Gi Man who is Hong Kong’s half marathon champion, and who was joint leader at half-way, came home in second place said ’a great run, it was hard out there, especially as it was warmer than expected, but I really enjoyed the event’.

Stephen Earley, from Bedford & County AC who came in third place, said ‘I had a good run today, it was hard in patches, but I thoroughly enjoyed the race’.

Sally Baker on finishing first in the women’s field said ‘It was hot out there, but so rewarding when you’ve put in the training, I’ve never won anything like this before, so I am very happy’.

Joceyln Payne who came in second in the women’s race said ‘ I started off good, but then the heat hit me. I was injured at the start of the year so am naturally very pleased to come home in second place’.

David Weir, five-times London Marathon wheelchair champion, turning out in his first race at the adidas Silverstone Half Marathon wheelchair event, was overwhelming favourite to win his first Silverstone title and delivered accordingly. David broke the course record finishing in 45:20 taking nearly eight minutes off the course record, previously held by Brian Alldis at 53:00 set in 2010.

David led the wheelchair field all the way and is coached by Jenny Archer. David who will be racing in this years Virgin London Marathon Wheelchair event in six weeks time against a tough field, and hopes to equal Tanni Grey-Thompson’s six tiles in London, said of his win today, ‘I was pleased with my time for the course, which was a bit twisty. My goal for the Paralympics is to get at least one gold medal, and looking forward to taking part in the Virgin London Marathon as preparation for this. Winning is all I want to do, I train to win’.

David now holds British records at all distances up to 5000m on the track as well as at 10k, half marathon and marathon on the road and a double Paralympic medalist on the track from Beijing at 800 and 1500 metres.

The field included many fun runners, fund raisers and fancy dress joggers enjoying a day out at one of the country’s most famous sporting venues and included stars from stage, screen and motor racing. Christian Horner, Team Principal of the Red Bull Formula One Racing team finished in a very respectable time of 2:32:10, and celebrities running for the TV Times Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research team ‘the Unstoppables’, included, Steve Hartley from the London stage production of Oliver who finished in 2:17:49, Mark Lewis Jones, starring in Sinbad, Titanic and Silk finished in a very decent time of 2:24:08, Bertie Portal, recently returned from successfully rowing the Atlantic crossed the line 2:01:55 and Holly Davidson recognisable from The Bill and Casualty had a great run in 1:44:54, to name but a few.

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